Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-12-11

LnfOQN0 IuG lulCACob hAN -
wife. / can't dispute your reasoning,
Henry. But l feel in my heart OF hearts
that You are deceived. Nothing will shake
nv belief that we are still as far from
having discovered the dreadful truth as
ever"
Henry made no further attempt to dis
pute with her. She had impressed him
with a certain reluctant respect for her
own opinion in spite of himself.
Have Won thought of any better way OF
arriving at the truth?" he asked. who
ia 10 help Us? No doubt there Is the coun-
tess, who has the clew to the mystery In
her W hands. But, in the present state
of her mind, is her testimony TO be trusted
even if she were willing to speak? Judg-
ing by my own experience, l should say
decidedly not"
''You don't mean that you have seen
her again. Agnes eagerly interposed-
'Yss, / had half an hour to spare before
dinner, and l disturbed her once more over
her endless writing"
And you told her what you found
when you opened the hiding place."
''Of course / did," Henry replied. II
said, in 80 many words, that / held her re-
sponsible for the discovery, and that l ex-
pected her to reveal the whole truth. She
went on with her writing as if had spoken
in an unknown tongue. / was equally OBJ
stinate on nv side. / told her plainly
that the head had been placed under the
care of the police, and that the manager
and l had signed our declarations and
given onr evidence. She paid not the
slightest heed 10 me. By way of tempt
ing herto speak, l added that the whole in
y~estigation was to be kept secret, and that
she might depend on my discretion. For
the moment / thought | had succeeded.
She looked up from her writing with a
passing flash of curiosity and said: What
are they going to do with it?'-meaning, /
uppose the head. / answered that it was
to be privately buried, after photographs
of it had been first taken. l even went
the length of communicating the opinion
of the surgeon consulted, that some chem
ical means of arrestipg decomposition had
been used and had only partially sue
eeeded-and l asked her point blank
if the surgeon was right. The trap
was not a bad one, but it completely
failed. She said in the coolest manner:
Now you are here, l should like TO con-
suit you about my play; / am at q loss for
some new Incident Mind. there was
nothing s~atirical in this. She wa really
eager to read her wonderful work to me
evidently supposing that l took q special
interest in such things because my brother
is the manager of a theatre. l leftAEer,
making the first excuse that occurred to
me. So far as / am concerned | can do
nothing with her. But it is possible that
your influence may succeed with her again,
as il has succeeded already. Will you
make the attempt to satisfy your own
mind? she is still upstairs; and am ready
TO accommodate you"
Agnes shuddered at the bare suggestion
of another interview with the countess.
81 can't, ! daren't! she exclaimed.
after what has happened i'll that horrible
room, she is more repe!lent to me than
ever. Don't ask me to do it, Henry. Feel
my hard-you have turned me as cold as
death only with talking itn
She was not exaggerating the terror that
possessed her. Henry fastened TO change
the subject.
Let US talk of something more interest
ing" he sold. II have q question TO ask
you about yourself. An l right in believing
that the sooner you get away from Venice
the happier you will be?'
Right" she repeated, excitedly. "i0u
are more than right! No words eau say
bow | long to be away from this horrible
place. But you know how am situated
'-yOu heard what LcrG Montbarry said ut
dinner time?'
Suppose he has altered his plans since
dinner time?" Henry suggested.
Agues looked surprised. Il thought ne
had received letters from England which
obliged him TO leave Venice tG-mC:rw, y
she said.
'Qaite tue" Henry Admitted. "He
had arranged 10 start for EugIand tO-mOr-
row, and to leave you and Lady Montharry
and the children to enjoy your holiday IN
Venice under my care. circumstance
have occurred. however, which have forced
him 10 alter his plans. He must take you
ell back with him tomorrow, because |
am not able to assume charge of you. |
sm obliged to give up my holiday IN Italy,
ana return to Eugland too"
Agnes looked OF him in some little per
plexlty; she was not quite sure whether
she understood him or not. care you
really obliged to go back?o she asked.
Henry smiled rs he answered her.
Keep the secret" he said, 'or Moatbarry
will never forgive me!'
She read the rest in his face. Oh"
she exclaimed, blushipg brightly, you
have not given up your pleasant holiday
in Italy on my acCOunt?'
~ shall 40 back with you to Bingham,
Agnes. That will be holiday enough for
me-"
She took bis hand in an iTrepreSsible
outburst OF gratitude. How good you
are to me-" sine murmured teuderly.
What should l have done in the troubles
that have come to ME, without your SYM
patty: | can't tell you, Henry, how |
feel your kindness"
She tried impulsively TO lift his hand tn
her lips. He gently stopped her. Agnes, 1"
he said, ARE you beginning to understand
how truly l love your"
That simple question found its own way
10 her heart. She owned the whole truth,
without saying d word. She looked at
him-and then looked away again.
He drew her to his bosom. MY own
darling" he whispered--and kissed her.
Softly and TREMENDOUSLY the sweet lips lin
gered, and touched his lips in return.
Then her head dropped. She put her arms
round his neck, and hid her face in his
bosom. They spoke no more.
The charmed silence had lasted but a lit
tie while, when it was mercilessly broken
by a knock at the door.
Agnes started to her feet. She placed
herself at the piano; the instrument being
opposite to the door, it was impossible,
when she seated herself on the music stool,
for any person entering the room to see her
face. Henry called out irritably, Come
in"
The door was not opened. The person
! on the other side asked a strange question:
is Mr.. Henry Westwick alOneS"
Agnes instantly recognized the voice OF
the countess. She hurried 10 a second
door, which communicated with one OF the
bedrooms. Don't let her come near met"